55 Things the Scale Won't Tell You

Picture this: It's time for your weekly weigh-in, and you are confident that you've lost a pound or two. You've eaten very well this week and have been even more consistent with your exercise than you usually are. You take a deep breath, close your eyes and step on the scale, your heart skipping a beat. You brace yourself, open your eyes, and… your heart sinks into your stomach and you clench your fists. Your weight is up one pound since last week.

What's going through your mind? Is it a frenzy of horribly negative self-talk? Do you feel like a worthless failure who can't do anything right? Do you swear and stamp your foot and move the scale to another spot on the bathroom floor in the hopes that the number will change?

If you've had any (or all) of these reactions after a disappointing weigh-in, you're not alone. But think about how crazy that roller coaster is! Why should a number on a scale make you feel so nervous—and then so painfully defeated when it isn't what you had hoped for? Why should a number on a scale ruin your day and make you say horrible things to yourself that you would never dream of saying to a friend?

We've all been sucked into the scale's siren song from time to time—and it makes sense why. The scale is appealing because it shows an instant, tangible metric of how you're progressing, and it seems like an easy way to tell if your weight-loss plan is working. But it's also easy to get too attached to that number—and you might start to define yourself based on what your morning weigh-in says, despite your best intentions. What's worse is, that number you're so fixated on might not even be an accurate gauge of your true progress! Your body is a complex machine; depending on fluid shifts, hormonal changes, when you last ate, how much sodium you've ingested, and multiple other factors, your weight could fluctuate by several pounds in just a single day.

So, the next time the number on the scale gets you down, step off, take a deep breath, and remember this: The only thing the scale can tell you is the amount of force that gravity has on your body at any given moment.

What can't the scale tell you? A whole lot:

1. What a good spouse/son/daughter/mother/father/grandma/grandpa you are2. How amazing you are at your job3. How fast you can run4. How much passion you have for your hobbies5. How unique your laugh is6. How loyal you are7. How much better your clothes are fitting8. How much water you drink every day9. How much you rock your favorite outfit10. How much you've grown emotionally11. How great your hair looks12. How smart you are13. How much your blood pressure/cholesterol/blood glucose numbers have improved14. The status of your relationship with food15. How motivated you are16. How many flights of stairs you can climb17. How well you're raising your kids18. How many lifelong memories you made on your last vacation19. How thoughtful you are20. What a great smile you have21. How much easier it is to carry your groceries since you've started working out22. How good you are at making healthy food choices23. How close you are to your friends24. How loved you are25. How well you can cook26. What a genuine person you are27. How much muscle mass you've put on in relation to fat lost28. The number of good books you've read29. How many amazing places you've seen30. How many volunteer hours you've logged31. How endearing your quirks are32. The number of steps you take per day33. How ambitious you are34. How many times you've passed up a treat for a healthier option35. How promising your future is36. How appreciated you are37. How far you can walk38. The number of fruits and veggies you eat every day39. How you handle stress40. How funny you are41. How many inches you've lost42. How much knowledge you've gained about healthy living43. How compassionate you are44. What a good pet owner you are45. How confident you are46. The number of compliments you've received47. How happy you are48. The number of medications you've been able to stop taking since getting healthier49. How strong your relationships are50. How much weight you can lift51. The number of people who admire and look up to you52. How many challenges you've overcome in your life53. How talented you are54. How much you've touched the lives of others55. How much you're learning and growing every day

Turns out the scale doesn't know so much, does it? The next time you weigh in, take the number with a grain of salt. Never let the number on the scale become the only measure of your worth; make healthy choices, be consistent and trust the process.

I don't know, for everyone, but I think this piece is good information for most of us. I haven't had a scale since I was pregnant 23 years ago, and needed to keep track of actual weight. When I went about losing recently, I kept strict track of what I ate, and used my clothes as the bellwether. I understand that weight plateaus are discouraging, and it's difficult enough making the adjustments to eat better-but-less. I agree that the scale shouldn't be a big part of the process, if you're not absolutely required to keep track of weight. Maybe once a week, or two, if one must, but I'm glad I didn't have that to worry about while I was losing, or since I've been maintaining!
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This article is exactly why I have decided not to weigh myself for at least a month if not more - I weighed myself on 5/1/18 & am going to see how I feel come 6/1 if i do not feel like weighing myself - then i will not - I am not going to let some number determine my self-worth or hurt my motivation or self-esteem in any way. I am working towards a better me and taking away the scale has helped me tremendously.
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Csc stats say average women in my age 50+ American middle class gain 4 lbs a year each year until age 65 or so. So taking the long view is also part of keeping perspective. I am not only working against a starting number, I need to take a bit of credit for reversing the trend in my age group. Let's celebrate how we contribute to the strength of our community.
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So many times our lives are governed by numbers: the scale, the clock, the blood readings. We need to learn to pay attention to the ones that matter and toss the ones that do not. But we always need to pay attention to our bodies.
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Too bad those 55 things the scale can't tell you does nothing to help with weight loss. I understand the concept: you're more than a number on the scale. However, this article reads like: "she has a great personality."
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I use the scale as a guide. It is as much a part of my morning routine as brushing my teeth. I get on it at the same time in the same circumstances from day to day. It is great to see the scale go down but when it does not it is a reminder that I need to be more mindful of what I am putting in my mouth and how much I exercise.
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